Pollan invited Ronald to share her perspectives on GMO food to a course he co-teaches called “Edible Education” that is dedicated to making the global food system “more equitable, healthful and sustainable.”

Pollan has been critical of GMO foods but told the audience, “If anyone can make the case for this technology, it’s Pam Ronald.”

Ronald gave an hour-long presentation before debating Pollan and course co-leader Raj Patel. She pointed out, for instance, that GMO crops have dramatically reduced insecticide use. On the other hand, Pollan noted that some GMO crops have led to herbicide-resistant weeds.

(Read more about the GMO debate in the full story by Amanda Little published in the New Yorker on April 25, 2014.)